16 November 2025
Marco Gandolfi
Fast-rising London-born singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro joined Rebecca Judd on Apple Music 1 to discuss her stunning single ‘Die on This Hill’, a whirlwind year that has seen fans singing her lyrics back within a week of release, praise from Elton John, six special performances with Sam Smith (including a show-stopping duet of ‘Lay Me Down’), an upcoming GAP campaign, and what’s next on the horizon, including the prospect of writing her debut album in 2026.
Sienna Spiro on how she registers the success of ‘Die on This Hill’ (chart success vs performing)…
“I’m incredibly grateful for it [chart success] and obviously it's a number and that shows people are listening and connecting. But to me, the times that I feel something is doing something is in person. And because I played so much live this year, I basically went on the tour, the one I just did before. I did the Sam (Smith) shows in New York and ‘Die on This Hill’ wasn't out and I played it every night and obviously no one really knew it because it wasn't out. And then I played Dublin last week and the song was only out for a week and a half, and the way everybody sang it and the reception of it, that's when the times I feel, I dunno, something's happened.”
Seinna Spiro on writing ‘Die on This Hill’ and the different versions it went through…
“It's been through about nine different versions. It was really fast at one point and it was a guitar song and it was…I didn't even know what we were doing, but we knew it was special. It just had this weird feeling, I dunno how to describe it. I'm sure musicians have talked to you about this all the time. It's like you just kind of leave the studio and you put your headphones on and there's just this weird thing that connects and I felt that with this one and I'm really proud of it, to be honest. I feel like it's a mature song.’
On performing ‘Lay Me Down’ with Sam Smith…
“That was the best moment of my life, really, genuinely. They gave me so much advice, it was six shows and it's like the dressing rooms were quite close and they're genuinely so important to music and I don't even know what to think when I was up there, to be honest. I was kind of blacking out a bit and that was just insane. After that I started crying and I never cry about anything. I couldn't really hold it in.
On her plans to write her debut album next year…
“I would love to write my album. I've been trying to ignore the A word. Trying to be like “No, don't ask. I'm not ready.” But I just feel that I think you know when you know and I'm feeling very inspired at the moment and I just feel like it's the right time. So I'd love to do that next year and that'll take up my whole year.”
On writing her first song aged 10…
It was called ‘Lady in the Mirror’ and I was obsessed with Michael Jackson. I was getting bullied really badly and to be honest, for a 10-year-old it was quite good. I mean not my grades, but also to understand structure - I kind of ate with that. I performed it in front of everyone as well! The bullies at School and Assembly. That was my first ever song and then I just wrote every day. It wasn't very good honestly, but it was the only thing that I could do.”
On her dad’s music taste and the music she grew up with…
“I grew up around so much music. My dad’s got amazing music taste and he introduced me to all the greats like Frank Sinatra, Nina Etta, Barbara Streisand, Al Green. And so I'd religiously listen to those artists and try and copy how they'd sing and try and emulate the way they'd use their voices and stuff. That was kind of how I found my love for it. I think I came out the womb singing to be honest.”
On whether she’ll keep writing ballads…
“I think I just try and do what feels the most natural to me and what's the most authentic. I've tried to do different things and I was like, this is so uncool. When I was younger I didn't even think I was a singer for a long time, I didn't even think I had a good voice. Doing things that aren't natural to you is never going to work and I've learned that and trying to be someone you're not, people can see right through you. I think to me the most important thing in my life is just to be the most authentic. I'd like to have a bit more tempo in my set and a bit less like high keys. It's really hard to get through my set. I'd like to have a bit more tempo and a bit less yelling, but I don't know. We'll see.“
On being inspired by Skye Newman…
“I think I've discovered so much new music and there's so many amazing new artists at the moment. You just mentioned Skye [Newman] I love her so much. Me and my whole family. I have a lot of new people in my life, especially this last month. So many great people have come into my life and I think I'm inspired by them and yeah, I think that's kind of what's going on right now.”
On Elton John calling her up…
“He called me no the other night! I was on the phone to this guy and my manager kept calling me and I was like, what do you want on FaceTime right now? She's like, Elton John's going to call you in 10 minutes. But my phone wasn't working and I couldn't pick up and then he ended up WhatsApp calling me and I was like, “hi Elton” and he was like “I won't keep you long” and I'm like, “keep me, keep me. I'm here!” He was just so nice. He was just telling me he was proud of me and he loves ‘Die On This Hill’ and I was like, thank you so much.
Rebecca Judd: What did you say to get the other guy off the phone?
Sienna Spiro: I hung up straight away. Sorryyyyy!”
On imposter syndrome, singing with other artists and her upcoming GAP advert…
“When I get to sing with people I just get so happy. I did a Gap advert that's coming out and I got to sing with a huge choir of people. I felt a lot of imposter syndrome and a bit out of my depth, but that was a pinch me moment to be part of something that big.
That was crazy. I got to sing with Teddy. That was crazy. Sam. When I got to sing with Sam… I just have so much respect for singers, but when I get to sing with other people I I'm like “I don't want to ruin anything!””
On pretending not to be herself at a party...
“I was at some party the other day and this girl was like, ‘Oh, are you Sienna Spiro?’ and I just pretended to not be me as a joke… I wanted to know what people thought about me.”
On her family’s reaction to her fame…
“My dad is just a bit shocked still. He didn't even believe this was real until ‘Maybe’ came out. He thought it was a hobby. He was like, “but you need to have something else to do” And I was like, “No!”. And yeah my mom's just sweet. She's just happy for me. She's just like, “oh, lovely darling.”
